Apple may be about to join Amazon, Google and Facebook in AI research group

Apple is poised to join Partnership on AI, an artificial intelligence research group that includes heavyweights like Amazon, Google, Facebook and Microsoft. The announcement of Apple’s membership could be made as soon as this week, according to Bloomberg.

The Partnership on AI research group was first announced last September, but it was missing some prominent members like Twitter, Intel, and Baidu (and yes, Apple). The group, headed by Microsoft veteran and computer scientist Harry Shum, was formed to foster collaboration around key issues surrounding AI, like ethics, safety, and transparency.

Apple is no stranger to AI, and the introduction of Siri in 2011 gave it early visibility in AI with consumers. However, its preference for secrecy has since limited its ability to improve its AI products and recruit talent, and it has now fallen behind the likes of Amazon and Google.

The good news is that things are changing. Apple hired Carnegie Mellon professor Russ Salakhutdinov last year, and has also published its first public AI research paper after a long history of resisting the practice.

Apple joining the Partnership on AI would signal that the company is more willing to open up, as the group’s official intent is to “conduct research, recommend best practices, and publish research under an open license”. Consumers could stand to benefit as well, as it seems likely that Apple will channel whatever benefits it reaps toward smarter technology for the iPhone.

Source: Bloomberg

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